U.S. patent number 10,203,444 [Application Number 15/567,231] was granted by the patent office on 2019-02-12 for display apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Zhanchang Bu, Ming Chen, Ying Chen, Xue Dong, Junjie Guo, Yutao Hao, Xiang Li, Jinku Lv, Bochang Wang.
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United States Patent |
10,203,444 |
Lv , et al. |
February 12, 2019 |
Display apparatus
Abstract
A display apparatus includes: a display panel having a display
surface; a light-guiding plate over the display surface, the
light-guiding plate including a bottom surface facing the display
surface; a light source on a side surface of the light-guiding
plate; and a low-refractive-index medium layer between the bottom
surface and the display surface, a refractive index of the
low-refractive-index medium layer being lower than a refractive
index of the light-guiding plate by at least about 0.15.
Inventors: |
Lv; Jinku (Beijing,
CN), Dong; Xue (Beijing, CN), Chen;
Ming (Beijing, CN), Bu; Zhanchang (Beijing,
CN), Wang; Bochang (Beijing, CN), Hao;
Yutao (Beijing, CN), Chen; Ying (Beijing,
CN), Guo; Junjie (Beijing, CN), Li;
Xiang (Beijing, CN) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. |
Beijing
Beijing |
N/A
N/A |
CN
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
(Beijing, CN)
BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. (Beijing,
CN)
|
Family
ID: |
61300135 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/567,231 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2017 |
PCT
Filed: |
May 05, 2017 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/CN2017/083200 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
October 17, 2017 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2018/040609 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
March 08, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180292595 A1 |
Oct 11, 2018 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
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Aug 29, 2016 [CN] |
|
|
2016 1 0751496 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B
6/005 (20130101); G02B 6/0065 (20130101); G02B
6/0043 (20130101); G02B 6/00 (20130101); G02B
6/0068 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
8/00 (20060101); G02B 6/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
202217253 |
|
May 2012 |
|
CN |
|
204883741 |
|
Dec 2015 |
|
CN |
|
105866997 |
|
Aug 2016 |
|
CN |
|
2014035980 |
|
Feb 2014 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
International Search Report & Written Opinion dated Jul. 27,
2017, regarding PCT/CN2017/083200. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Bowman; Mary Ellen
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Intellectual Valley Law, P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A display apparatus, comprising: a display panel having a
display surface; a touch panel on the display panel; a
light-guiding plate on a side of the touch panel distal to the
display surface of the display panel, the light-guiding plate
including a bottom surface facing the display surface; a light
source on a side surface of the light-guiding plate; and a
low-refractive-index glue layer adhering the bottom surface of the
light-guiding plate to the touch panel, a refractive index of the
low-refractive-index glue layer being lower than a refractive index
of the light-guiding plate by at least about 0.15 and lower than a
refractive index of the touch panel adhered to the bottom surface
of the light-guiding plate by at least 0.15; wherein the refractive
index of the low-refractive-index glue layer is less than or equal
to about 1.25 and equal to or larger than about 1.1; and refractive
indexes of layers sequentially from the light-guiding plate to the
touch panel undergo an increase by at least about 0.15 followed by
a decrease by at least about 0.15.
2. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
refractive index of the low-refractive-index glue layer is less
than or equal to about 1.2.
3. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
light-guiding plate comprises polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA),
styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer (MS), or glass.
4. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
light-guiding plate includes a plurality of scattering grid
nodes.
5. The display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
scattering grid nodes are arranged on at least one of the bottom
surface or a top surface of the light-guiding plate facing away
from the display surface.
6. The display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a diameter
of each of the scattering grid nodes is less than or equal to about
1 micron.
7. The display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a
second low-refractive-index medium between the touch panel and the
display panel.
8. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display
panel is an electronic ink display panel or a reflective liquid
crystal display panel.
9. The display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a
second light source arranged on a second side surface of the
light-guiding plate, the second side surface being different from
the first side surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 371 of International Application No. PCT/CN2017/083200,
filed May 5, 2017, which claims priority of Chinese Patent
Application No. 201610751496.5, filed Aug. 29, 2016, the entire
contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure generally relates to the display
technologies and, more particularly, to a system, a display module,
and a display device containing the display module.
BACKGROUND
Some conventional display panels, e.g., electronic ink display
panels and reflective liquid crystal (LC) display panels, rely on
light entering from their display surface to display images. To
obtain good display effect in these display panels when light in
the surroundings is weak, front light sources can be arranged in
the display modules of these display panels.
SUMMARY
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a display apparatus,
including: a display panel having a display surface; a
light-guiding plate over the display surface, the light-guiding
plate including a bottom surface facing the display surface; a
light source on a side surface of the light-guiding plate; and a
low-refractive-index medium layer between the bottom surface and
the display surface, a refractive index of the low-refractive-index
medium layer being lower than a refractive index of the
light-guiding plate by at least about 0.15.
Optionally, the refractive index of the low-refractive-index medium
layer is less than or equal to about 1.3.
Optionally, the refractive index of the low-refractive-index medium
layer is less than or equal to about 1.25.
Optionally, the light-guiding plate is made of at least one of
polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), styrene-methyl methacrylate
copolymer (MS), or glass.
Optionally, the low-refractive-index medium layer includes a glue
and the bottom surface of the light-guiding plate is bonded to the
display surface by the glue.
Optionally, the light-guiding plate includes a plurality of
scattering grid nodes.
Optionally, the scattering grid nodes are disposed on at least one
of the bottom surface or a top surface of the light-guiding plate
facing away from the display surface.
Optionally, a diameter of each of the scattering grid nodes is less
than or equal to about 1 micron.
Optionally, the display apparatus further includes: a touch panel
between the display panel and the low-refractive-index medium
layer.
Optionally, the low-refractive-index medium layer includes a glue
and the bottom surface of the light-guiding plate is bonded to the
touch panel by the glue.
Optionally, the low-refractive-index medium layer is a first
low-refractive-index medium layer; and the display apparatus
further comprising a second low-refractive-index medium between the
touch panel and the display panel.
Optionally, the display panel is an electronic ink display panel or
a reflective liquid crystal display panel.
Optionally, the light source is a first light source and the side
surface is a first side surface, and the display apparatus further
includes a second light source arranged on a second side surface of
the light-guiding plate that is different from the first side
surface.
Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a display device,
including a disclosed display apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The following drawings are merely examples for illustrative
purposes according to various disclosed embodiments and are not
intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional display
module.
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary display
module according to various disclosed embodiments of the present
disclosure.
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another exemplary
display module according to various disclosed embodiments of the
present disclosure.
FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another exemplary
display module according to various disclosed embodiments of the
present disclosure.
FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another exemplary
display module according to various disclosed embodiments of the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will now be described in
more detail with reference to the drawings. It is to be noted that
the following descriptions of some embodiments are presented herein
for purposes of illustration and description only. It is not
intended to be exhaustive or to be limiting.
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional display
module having a front light source. As shown in FIG. 1, the display
module includes a display panel 1 having a display surface 11 and a
touch panel 4 arranged over the display panel 1. The front light
source includes a light-guiding plate 2 arranged over the touch
panel 4 and a light source 21 arranged on one side surface of the
light-guiding plate 2 to provide light to the light-guiding plate
2. A side of the light-guiding plate 2 facing the display surface
11 is bonded onto the touch panel 4. In the display module shown in
FIG. 1, a portion of the light emitted by the light source 21 is
incident on an edge portion of the light-guiding plate 2 that is
close to the light source 21. This portion of the light undergoes
multiple total reflections to reach other locations of the
light-guiding plate 2. Usually, the light emitted by the light
source 21 should undergo as many total reflections as possible
during transmission in the light-guiding plate 2, to ensure that
the brightness level at various locations in the light-guiding
plate 2 is uniform. The display module shown in FIG. 1 further
includes a plurality of scattering grid nodes 22 arranged over the
light-guiding plate 2. The scattering grid nodes 22 cause the light
travelling in the light-guiding plate 2 to exit the light-guiding
plate 2 from the side close to the display panel 1.
However, the side of the light-guiding plate 2 close to the display
panel 1 is in contact with the touch panel 4, and a main portion,
i.e., a substrate, of the touch panel 4 has a refractive index that
is close to a refractive index of the light-guiding plate 2.
Typically, the refractive indices of the main portion of the touch
panel 4 and the light-guiding plate 2 are both around 1.5.
Accordingly, when the light travelling in the light-guiding plate 2
reaches the side of the light-guiding plate 2 close to the display
surface 11, i.e., the interface between the light-guiding plate 2
and the touch panel 4, only a small portion of the light is totally
reflected. A great portion of the light directly exits from this
side of the light-guiding plate 2. As a result, the brightness
level in the light-guiding plate 2 is non-uniform and the usage of
light is low.
FIG. 2 schematically shows an exemplary display module 200), i.e.,
a display apparatus 200, consistent with the present disclosure.
The display module 200 includes the display panel 1 and the
light-guiding plate 2 arranged over the display panel 1.
The display panel 1 includes the display surface 11. i.e., an upper
surface of the display panel 1 as shown in the figure. The display
panel 1 can utilize light entering from the display surface 11,
such as light from the surroundings, to display images along the
display surface 11, such that a user in front of the display
surface 11 of the display panel 1 can see the images displayed by
the display surface 11.
In some embodiments, the display panel 1 may be an electronic ink
display panel or a reflective liquid-crystal (LC) display panel.
The electronic ink display panel and the reflective LC display
panel are common display panels that use light from surroundings to
display images. In some other embodiments, the display panel 1 can
be another suitable display panel.
The light-guiding plate 2 is arranged on an outer side of the
display surface 11. The light-guiding plate 2 may or may not
contact the display surface 11. In some embodiments, the
light-guiding plate 2 can be made of a material having a refractive
index of about 1.5. For example, the light-guiding plate 2 can be
made of one or more of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA),
styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer (MS), and glass. In some
other embodiments, the light-guiding plate 2 can be made of another
suitable material, such as a material having a refractive index of
about 2.
The light-guiding plate 2 includes two main surfaces, one facing
the display panel 1, also referred to as a bottom surface of the
light-guiding plate 2, and the other one facing away from the
display panel 1, also referred to as a top surface of the
light-guiding plate 2. The two main surfaces are connected through
side surfaces of the light-guiding plate 2.
The display module 200 further includes the light source 21
arranged on one side surface of the light-guiding plate 2 to
provide light to the light-guiding plate 2. The light source 21 may
be positioned on any suitable side surface of the light-guiding
plate 2, not limited to that shown in FIG. 2. The light source 21
may be, e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED) or an LED strip having a
plurality of LEDs. The light-guiding plate 2 and the light source
21 form the front light source of the display module 200, which can
provide light for the display panel 1 when the light of the
surroundings is weak.
As shown in FIG. 2, the display module 200 further includes a
low-refractive-index medium layer 3 sandwiched between the display
panel 1 and the light-guiding plate 2. The low-refractive-index
medium layer 3 has a refractive index smaller than the refractive
index of the light-guiding plate 2. The bottom surface of the
light-guiding plate 2 can be in contact with the
low-refractive-index medium layer 3. In some embodiments, the
low-refractive-index medium layer 3 is a low-refractive-index glue
layer made of an adhesive material and bonds the bottom surface of
the light-guiding plate 2 to the display panel 1, which serves as a
substrate for supporting the light-guiding plate 2. In some other
embodiments, the low-refractive-index medium layer 3 can be another
suitable layer, such as an air layer between the display panel 1
and the light-guiding plate 2. The specific form of the
low-refractive-index medium layer is not limited by the exemplary
embodiments of the disclosure.
Because the refractive index of the low-refractive-index medium
layer 3 is smaller than the refractive index of the light-guiding
plate 2, when light travelling in the light-guiding plate 2 is
incident on the bottom surface of the light-guiding plate 2 (and
thus on an interface between the light-guiding plate 2 and the
low-refractive-index medium layer 3), a large portion of the
incident light can be totally reflected. Thus, the light can
undergo multiple total reflections and reach various positions of
the light-guiding plate 2. As a result, the light-guiding plate 2
can have a more uniform brightness level, and usage of light can be
improved.
In some embodiments, the refractive index of the
low-refractive-index medium layer 3 may be smaller than or equal to
about 1.3. In some embodiments, the refractive index of the
low-refractive-index glue layer 3 may be smaller than or equal to
about 1.25. A smaller refractive index in the low-refractive-index
medium layer 3 makes it easier for the total reflection to occur.
However, if the refractive index of the low-refractive-index medium
layer 3 is too low, it may be more difficult for light to exit the
light-guiding plate 2. That is, it may be more difficult to emit
light from the light-guiding plate 2 for displaying images.
Moreover, from the perspective of fabrication, the refractive index
of the low-refractive-index medium layer 3 should be within a
certain range. If the refractive index of the low-refractive-index
medium layer 3 is too low, it may be difficult to form the
low-refractive-index medium layer 3 and the performance of the
low-refractive-index medium layer 3 may be affected. Therefore, the
refractive index of the low-refractive-index medium layer 3 can be,
for example, equal to or larger than about 1.1. In some
embodiments, the refractive index of the low-refractive-index
medium layer 3 can be equal to or larger than about 1.1 and equal
to or smaller than about 1.25.
The impact of the refractive index of the low-refractive-index
medium layer 3 on the total reflection may be simulated, and the
result is listed in Table 1. The simulation illustrated in Table 1
only takes into account the light incident on the surface of the
light-guiding plate 2 that contacts the low-refractive-index medium
layer 3, i.e., the bottom surface of the light-guiding plate 2
facing the display panel 1, and does not take into account the
light incident on the surface of the light-guiding plate 2 facing
away from the display panel 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Relationship between the refractive index of
the low-refractive-index medium layer and the total reflection
Refractive index of Threshold Refractive the low- first Percentage
of index of Minimum refractive- incident light Maximum the light-
second index Angle of angle to undergoes first incident guiding
incident medium total allow total total angle plate angle layer
reflection reflection reflection 79.2.degree. 1.5 49.1.degree. 1.1
47.2.degree. No limit 100% 1.2 53.1.degree. 64.2.degree. 92% 1.3
60.1.degree. 48.4.degree. 77% 1.35 64.2.degree. 40.8.degree. 67%
1.4 69.0.degree. 32.5.degree. 55%
As used herein, the first incident angle refers to the incident
angle of light emitted by the light source 21 on the side surface
of the light-guiding plate 2, i.e., the angle between the direction
of light transmission and the normal of the side surface of the
light-guiding plate 2. Because the light source 21 usually emits
light along directions within a light-exiting angle range, the
first incident angle is also within a range, and the largest one in
the range is the maximum first incident angle. When the light is
incident on the side surface of the light-guiding plate 2, the
light is refracted and is incident on the bottom surface of the
light-guiding plate 2, i.e., the surface of the light-guiding plate
2 contacting the low-refractive-index medium layer 3. The degree of
refraction is determined by the refractive index of the
light-guiding plate 2. The second incident angle refers to the
incident angle of the light on the bottom surface of the
light-guiding plate 2, i.e., the angle between the direction of the
light and the normal of the bottom surface of the light-guiding
plate 2. The second incident angle of the light depends on the
first incident angle, and a greater first incident angle can result
in a smaller second incident angle. Thus, the maximum first
incident angle may correspond to the minimum second incident
angle.
When the refractive index of the light-guiding plate 2 is fixed, a
total reflection angle, i.e., a smallest incident angle that the
total reflection can occur, at the interface between the
low-refractive-index medium layer 3 and the light-guiding plate 2
depends on the refractive index of the low-refractive-index medium
layer 3. Further, the total reflection at the interface when the
second incident angle is greater than the total reflection angle.
That is, the total reflection at the interface can occur when the
first incident angle is smaller than a certain angle, because the
second incident angle decreases when the first incident angle
increases. This certain angle is also referred to as a "threshold
first incident angle to allow the total reflection" or simply a
"threshold first incident angle." As listed in Table 1, the
threshold first incident angle corresponding to a refractive index
of 1.1 of the low-refractive-index medium layer 3 is "no limit,"
which indicates that the threshold first incident angle is greater
than the maximum first incident angle, i.e., 79.2.degree..
Accordingly, all the light incident on the side surface of the
light-guiding plate 2 can undergo total reflection after entering
the light-guiding plate 2. Further, the threshold first incident
angle corresponding to a refractive index of 1.2 of the
low-refractive-index medium layer 3 is 64.2.degree., which
indicates that the light incident on the side surface of the
light-guiding plate 2 with a first incident angle greater than
64.2.degree. cannot undergo total reflection at the bottom surface
of the light-guiding plate 2 after entering the light-guiding plate
2. Based on the threshold first incident angle and intensities of
the light emitted by the light source 21 in various directions, the
amount of light emitted by the light source 21 that can undergo
total reflection can be determined. That is, the percentage of
light that undergoes total reflection can be calculated.
When the absolute difference between the refractive index of the
low-refractive-index medium layer 3 and the refractive index of the
light-guiding plate 2 is greater than or equal to about 0.15, the
percentage of light that undergoes total reflection can be high
enough. Thus, using the low-refractive-index medium layer 3 can
increase the percentage of light that undergoes total reflections,
such that the brightness level of light-guiding plate 2 can be more
uniform and the usage of light can be improved.
In some embodiments, the display panel 1 serves as the substrate
for the light-guiding plate 2 and the low-refractive-index medium
layer 3 includes a low-refractive-index glue layer. As shown in
FIG. 2, the light-guiding plate 2 is bonded onto the display
surface 11 of the display panel 1 through the low-refractive-index
glue layer 3.
In some embodiments, the display module may further include a touch
panel 4 between the display panel 1 and the light-guiding plate 2,
to implement touch functions, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The
aforementioned substrate may include a touch substrate 4.
FIG. 3 schematically shows another exemplary display module 300
consistent with the disclosure. The display module 300 is similar
to the display module 200, except that the display module 300
further includes the touch panel 4 arranged between the display
panel 1 and the light-guiding plate 2. Specifically, the touch
panel 4 is arranged between the display panel 1 and the
low-refractive-index medium layer 3. In some embodiments, the
low-refractive-index medium layer 3 includes a low-refractive-index
glue layer, and the light-guiding plate 2 is bonded on the touch
panel 4 through the low-refractive-index glue layer 3. In these
embodiments, the touch panel 4 and the display panel 1 together
serve as a substrate for supporting the light-guiding plate 2.
FIG. 4 shows another exemplary display module 400 consistent with
the disclosure. The display module 400 is similar to the display
module 300, except that the display module 400 further includes
another low-refractive-index medium layer 3 arranged between the
display panel 1 and the touch panel 4. The low-refractive-index
medium layer 3 between the display panel 1 and the touch panel 4
further enhances the total reflection and the light uniformity
across the display module 400.
In some embodiments, the low-refractive-index medium layer 3
between the display panel 1 and the touch panel 4 includes a
low-refractive-index glue layer, which bonds the side of the touch
panel 4 facing away from the light-guiding plate 2 on the display
surface 11 of the display panel 1. That is, the touch panel 4 can
be bonded onto the display surface 11 of the display panel 1
through the low-refractive-index glue layer 3. In some embodiments,
the light is already distributed uniformly in the display module
400, and thus the touch panel 4 can be fixed onto the display panel
1 through other suitable means.
Other related components or layers may also be incorporated into
the display module consistent with the disclosure, such as one of
the above-described exemplary display modules 200, 300, and 400,
and the number of low-refractive-index medium layers 3 should not
be limited by the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
Wherever appropriate, a low-refractive-index medium layer 3 can be
inserted between certain components or layers to improve the total
reflection and the transmission of light from the light-guiding
plate 2 to the display panel 1. The low-refractive-index medium
layer 3 can include a low-refractive-index glue layer to bond
neighboring components or layers together. Further, the specific
position of the touch panel 4 may be flexible to facilitate such
functions.
In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, the light-guiding plate
2 includes a plurality of scattering grid nodes 22 that can scatter
light. The scattering grid nodes 22 can change the propagation of
the light in the light-guiding plate 2, such that the light can be
emitted from the light-guiding plate 2 through the bottom surface
of the light-guiding plate 2 to enter the display panel 1. The
scattering grid nodes 22 can be disposed on the main surface close
to the display surface 11, i.e., the top surface of the
light-guiding plate 2, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, or on the main
surface facing away from the display surface 11, i.e., the bottom
surface of the light-guiding plate 2, or on both the top and bottom
surfaces of the light-guiding plate 2. The diameter of a scattering
grid node 22 may be less than or equal to about 1 micron. Because
of the small size, the scattering grid nodes 22 can be almost
invisible to the user and thus do not impact the display
effect.
The specific pattern of the scattering grid nodes 22 should not be
limited by the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For
example, the scattering grid nodes 22 may be randomly distributed
or may be arranged in an array. In various embodiments, the shape
of a scattering grid node 22 may also vary according to different
applications or designs. For example, the shape of a scattering
grid node 22 may be square or circular.
In some embodiments, the scattering grid nodes 22 may be formed by
a nanoimprinting process or a photolithography process. The
nanoimprinting process may include, for example, a roller
nanoimprinting, an ultraviolet-curing nanoimprinting, or a
micro-contact nano-printing processes. In some embodiments, the
nanoimprinting process may include forming a polymer pattern
through an exposure process, transferring the pattern to a hard
template, and imprinting the pattern using the template, to form
the scattering grid nodes 22 on the light-guiding plate 2. In some
embodiments, the pattern may be transferred to the template through
evaporation, stripping, reactive ion etching, and other related
processes.
The photolithography process may include coating a photoresist
layer over the light-guiding plate 2 or a film formed over the
light-guiding plate 2, patterning the photoresist layer by exposing
and developing the photoresist layer to remove portions of the
photoresist layer, and removing portions of the light-guiding plate
2 or the film over the light-guiding plate 2 that are not covered
by the patterned photoresist layer by etching to form the
scattering grid nodes 22 on the surface of the light-guiding plate
2.
In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2-4, the display module includes
one light source 21 arranged on one side surface of the
light-guiding plate 2. In some embodiments, the display module can
include more than one light source arranged on one side surface of
the light-guiding plate 2. In some other embodiments, the display
module can include a plurality of light sources arranged on a
plurality of different side surfaces of the light-guiding plate,
with one or more of the plurality of light sources arranged on one
of the plurality of side surfaces. FIG. 5 schematically shows
another exemplary display module 500 consistent with the
disclosure. The display module 500 is similar to the display module
200, except that the display module 500 includes a plurality of
light sources 21 arranged on a plurality of side surfaces of the
light-guiding plate 2. For example, as shown in the cross-sectional
view of FIG. 5, one of the light sources 21 is arranged on the left
side surface of the light-guiding plate 2 and another one of the
light sources 21 is arranged on the right side surface of the
light-guiding plate 2.
The present disclosure also provides a display device including a
display module consistent with the disclosure, such as one of the
above-described exemplary display modules. The display device may
be a product or a component having the display function, such as an
electronic paper, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a television,
a monitor, a laptop computer, a digital photo frame, or a
navigation device.
The foregoing description of the embodiments of the disclosure has
been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is
not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the
precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Accordingly,
the foregoing description should be regarded as illustrative rather
than restrictive. Obviously, many modifications and variations will
be apparent to persons skilled in this art. The embodiments are
chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the
technology, with various modifications suitable to the particular
use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope
of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their
equivalents in which all terms are meant in their broadest
reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, the term
"the disclosure", "the present disclosure" or the like does not
necessarily limit the claim scope to a specific embodiment, and the
reference to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure does not imply
a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be
inferred. Moreover, the claims may refer to "first", "second", etc.
followed by a noun or element. Such terms should be understood as a
nomenclature and should not be construed as giving the limitation
on the number of the elements modified by such nomenclature unless
specific number has been given. Any advantages and benefits
described may or may not apply to all embodiments of the
disclosure. It should be appreciated that variations may be made to
the embodiments described by persons skilled in the art without
departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, no
element or component in the present disclosure is intended to be
dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element or
component is explicitly recited in the following claims.
* * * * *